CVE-2023-20175 is an OS command injection vulnerability found in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) software, affecting versions 2.6.0 through 3.2.0 and their respective patches. The flaw exists in a specific CLI command that fails to properly neutralize special elements in user-supplied input, allowing an authenticated local attacker to inject arbitrary operating system commands. The attacker must have at least read-only privileges on the device, which lowers the bar for exploitation compared to vulnerabilities requiring administrative access. By submitting a crafted CLI command, the attacker can escalate privileges to root, gaining full control over the underlying operating system. This can lead to complete compromise of the device, enabling actions such as data exfiltration, manipulation of network access policies, or disruption of network services. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with relatively low attack complexity and privileges required. Cisco ISE is widely deployed in enterprise environments for identity and access management, making this vulnerability particularly critical. Although no public exploits have been reported, the potential for severe impact warrants immediate attention. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation in the CLI interface, a common vector for command injection attacks. Mitigation requires patching or applying vendor-provided updates once available, as well as restricting CLI access and monitoring for suspicious command usage.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-20175 can be significant due to the widespread use of Cisco ISE in enterprise network environments for authentication, authorization, and policy enforcement. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to manipulate network access controls, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt critical network services. This poses a risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network infrastructure. Organizations in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable given their reliance on Cisco ISE for secure network access. The ability to escalate privileges to root means attackers could establish persistent footholds or move laterally within networks. The requirement for authenticated access reduces the risk from external attackers but insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate widespread impact, but the high severity and ease of exploitation once authenticated necessitate proactive mitigation. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in regulatory compliance issues under GDPR and other European cybersecurity regulations if data breaches occur.

1. Immediately restrict CLI access to Cisco ISE devices to trusted administrators only, employing network segmentation and strict access controls. 2. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication, to reduce risk of credential compromise. 3. Monitor CLI command usage and audit logs for unusual or unauthorized commands indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Apply Cisco's security advisories and patches addressing CVE-2023-20175 as soon as they become available; if patches are not yet released, consider temporary mitigations such as disabling vulnerable CLI commands if feasible. 5. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to limit users to the minimum necessary privileges, avoiding granting read-only or higher access broadly. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on Cisco ISE deployments to detect potential exploitation. 7. Maintain up-to-date inventory of affected Cisco ISE versions and plan for timely upgrades to patched versions. 8. Educate administrators on the risks of command injection vulnerabilities and the importance of secure CLI usage practices.